Sport goal

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a sports goal and provides for attaching the mesh or net of the goal to the frame using ties instead of a sleeve attached to the mesh.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to sport goals and, more particularly, to portable sport goals useful for soccer and hockey.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Sports using goals, such as hockey, soccer (or football), lacrosse, and many others are becoming more popular. With the increase in popularity, a need is developing for portable goals to allow individual to the flexibility to play these sports in, for example, backyards and fields.

[0003]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a portable goal 10 useful for hockey. The goal comprises a frame 12 and a mesh 14. The frame 12 generally comprises a tubular material, such as plastic or aluminum tubing. The mesh 14 generally comprises webbing made out of cloth, nylon or the like. As one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize, however, the frame and mesh can be made out of multiple materials.

[0004] To attach mesh 14 to frame 12, a sleeve 16 is attached to the mesh 14. The sleeves can be stitched or otherwise attached to mesh 14 and generally has a diameter sufficient to encircle the corresponding portion of frame 12 and allow the frame 12 parts to slide within the sleeve.

[0005] To assemble and dissemble the goal 10, the parts of frame 12 must be inserted and removed from the sleeve 16. As can be appreciated, this can be a time consuming process and risks damaging the mesh 14.

[0006] As an alternative to the sleeve, frame 12 is sometimes weaved through the mesh 14 of the net. This provides similar difficulties to the sleeve as well as the additional difficulty associated with weaving the mesh netting with the frame. Instead of the sleeve or weave method, non-elastic straps, such as Velcro, have been used. However, the non-elastic straps are difficult to attach and allow the net to sag over time.

[0007] Thus, it would be desirous to provide apparatuses and methods to allow releasably attaching the mesh to the frame without using sleeves or weaving in such a manner that is simple and prevents the net from sagging over time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Further, the advantages and purpose of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

[0009] To attain the advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a sports goal using a tie to attach the mesh to the frame is provided. The sports goal comprises a frame and a mesh. Elastic ties are provided to attach the mesh to the frame by threading the ties through holes in the mesh such that sleeves around the frame do not need to be used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles thereof. Like items in the drawings are referred to using the same numerical reference.

[0011]FIG. 1 shows a prior art sport goal having a sleeve to attach the mesh to the frame;

[0012]FIG. 2 shows attaching a mesh to the frame in a manner consistent with the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a tie 26;

[0014]FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a tie 26 attaching mesh 24 to frame 22; and

[0015]FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a tie 26.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Some embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4. While the present invention is described in relation to a conventional hockey goal, one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the present invention could be used in any type of sport goal attaching a mesh or net to a frame, such as a soccer goal and a lacrosse goal.

[0017]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a hockey goal 20. Hockey goal 20 comprises a frame 22 made of tubular plastic, but can be almost any material tubular or not. Attached to the frame 22 is a mesh 24 forming the net. Mesh 24 can be made out of a plastic or cloth material. Attaching mesh 24 to frame 22 exists a plurality of ties 26.

[0018]FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of one tie 26. Tie 26 includes an elastic portion 32 and a base 34. In this case, the elastic portion 32 has a first 36 end and a second end 38 attached to the base 34, which is shown as a ball. With first end 36 and second end 38 attached to the base 34, the elastic portion 32 forms a loop 40. FIG. 4 shows tie 26 with elastic portion 32 threaded through a hole 42 of the mesh 24 and around the frame 22. The loop 40 of the elastic portion 32 is slipped over base 34 attaching the mesh 24 to the frame 22. As shown, the elastic cord 32, which could be a BUNGEE® cord, runs from the ball 34 through a hole 42 (or gap) in the mesh 24 around the frame 22 and loops over the base 34. The elastic portion 32 attempts to contract and is hindered by the loop 40 over the base 34. While the elastic cord is shown having a first end 36 and a second end 38 attached to the base 34 to form a loop 40, it is possible to use an elastic portion with a first end connected to the base and the second end connected to a loop or hook that can attach to the base 34. Furthermore, multiple elastic portions could be used. Further, instead of a ball the cord could have some other type of releasable connection, such as a snap lock, which is shown in FIG. 5. In this case, for example, the first end 52 of the elastic cord 50 could be attached to one part of the snap lock 54 and the second end 56 of the elastic cord 50 could be attached to the corresponding part of the snap lock 58, such that the elastic cord 50 is threaded through a hole 42 and around frame and the snap lock 54 and 58 are releasably attached causing the mesh 24 to be attached to the frame 22. Alternatively, the first and second ends could be attached to one part of the snap lock and the loop could be attached to the corresponding part of the snap lock. Further, while the tie has been described with one end releasably attached to a base (i.e. ball 34), both ends can be releasably attached.

[0019] While not shown, it would be possible to notch the base 34 so that the loop 40 of elastic cord 32 fits into the notch in the base assisting to keep the loop in place while under compressive force.

[0020] While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to some embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in the form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

We claim:
 1. A sports goal comprising: a frame; a mesh; a plurality of ties; and each tie comprising an elastic cord having a first end attached to a base and a loop releasably attachable to the base, such that the plurality of ties attach the mesh to the frame.
 2. The sports goal of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a ball.
 3. The sports goal of claim 2, wherein the elastic cord has a second end attached to a ball and the elastic cord forms the loop.
 4. The sports goal of claim 1, wherein the base is a ball and the loop is received over the ball.
 5. The sports goal of claim 4, wherein the ball comprises a notch for receiving the loop.
 6. The sports goal of claim 1, wherein the elastic cord extends through the mesh and around the frame to connect the mesh to the frame.
 7. The sports goal of claim 1 comprising a sports goal selected from the group consisting of soccer, hockey, and lacrosse.
 8. A sports goal comprising: a frame; a net; the net having a plurality of holes; and elastic means for attaching the mesh by threading the elastic means for attaching through at least one the plurality of holes.
 9. The sports goal of claim 8, wherein the means for attaching includes at least one elastic cord threaded through the at least one plurality of holes.
 10. The sports goal of claim 9, wherein the elastic cords comprises a first end attached to the ball; and a second end attached to the ball; and the elastic cord forms a loop having an portion that can fit over the ball, such that the loop extends from the ball through the corresponding hole and around the frame and over the ball to attach the net to the frame.
 11. A sports goal, comprising: a frame; a mesh; the mesh comprises a webbing having a plurality of holes; a plurality of ties, each tie comprising a base and an elastic cord attached to the ball; and the mesh is attached to the frame by the plurality of ties where the base of each tie is placed adjacent the frame and the elastic cord is threaded around the frame and through at least one of the plurality of holes and releasably attached to the base.
 12. The sports goal of claim 11, wherein the base is a ball and the elastic cord is connected to the ball at a first end and a second end forming a loop.
 13. The sports goal of claim 12, wherein the ball has a notch capable of receiving the loop.
 14. The sports goal of claim 11, wherein: the base comprises a first part of a snap lock; and the elastic cord having a first end attached to the base and a second end having the second part of the snap lock, wherein the first part of the snap lock is placed adjacent the frame and the elastic cord having the second part of the snap lock is threaded through the at least one of the plurality of holes and around the frame, and the second part of the snap lock engages the first part of the snap lock.
 15. A sports goal, comprising: a frame; a mesh having an edge and a plurality of holes, some of the plurality of holes adjacent the edge; and a plurality of ties, the ties comprising: a base having a notch; an elastic cord; and the elastic cord having a first end attached to the base and a second end attached to the base forming a loop, such that the mesh is attached to the frame by arranging the edge of the mesh adjacent the frame, placing the base having notch adjacent the frame, threading the elastic cord through at least one of the plurality of holes adjacent the edge, and inserting the loop into the notch such that the compressive force of the elastic cord attaches the mesh to the frame.
 16. The sports goal of claim 15, wherein the base is a ball.
 17. The sports goal of claim 15, wherein the notch grips the loop forming a friction fitting. 